Truck stop surveillance operation leads cops to 850 pounds of cocaine in big rig

A Canadian truck driver is facing charges related to drug trafficking after authorities seized hundreds of pounds of drugs from his vehicle last week.

Ontario resident Ahmed El Kady, 37, is facing charges of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York.

Authorities say that on August 7, 2023, El Kady entered the U.S. through the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit driving a semi truck without a trailer. El Kady told border officers that he would pick up a trailer at a location in Detroit.

Following this interaction, “investigators surveilled El Kady and the Subject Vehicle to the TA Travel Center in Dexter, Michigan, where, over the next two days, he appeared to make some sort of exchange with the drivers of two other commercial trucks. Investigators continued to surveil El Kady as he traveled to Ohio before returning to Dexter, Michigan and making another exchange with the driver of a third commercial truck. El Kady then traveled to Buffalo, NY, arriving on evening of August 9, 2023, and spending the night at local truck stop.”

On August 10, El Kady’s wife arrived at the truck stop and the pair headed to Niagara Falls, “where they made frequent stops throughout the area and were observed driving evasively in a manner consistent with individuals conducting counter surveillance. After their attempts to lose investigators from their surveillance, El Kady and Tambur attempted to return to the truck stop to the Subject Vehicle. A federal search warrant was executed on the Subject Vehicle, during which approximately 386 kilograms of suspected cocaine were seized, and El Kady was taken into custody.”

If convicted, El Kady faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.

Agencies involved in the investigation include Homeland Security Investigations, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Canada Border Services Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP Air and Marine Unit, U.S. Border Patrol, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, the Buffalo Police Department, the North Tonawanda Police Department, the Cheektowaga Police Department, the Ontario Provincial Police, Peel Police, and Toronto Police Services.